update on covid for May

Apple to apples, right?
If I'm wanting to compare data from one month to another, why not do so for the same set of states, correct?
So, as a reminder, this is the data for the month of April.
The four states are California (yellow), Florida (orange), Michigan (green), and Georgia (dark blue).
For the number of people infected with COVID-19 plotted versus day of that month, each state obviously has upward trends.
No downswing, no plateau, just numbers of infected (as well as numbers of dead people) constantly climbing.
None of that stopped Georgia and Texas from re-opening all businesses during that last week in April, all except bars, nightclubs, and entertainment venues.
Yes, the malls were opened, too.
Subsequently, those two states experienced spikes in number of infected people, just in time for Mother's Day, two weeks later.
Not the kind of gift Mom deserved, was it?
I think not.
Now, it's been two weeks since that occasion, with the beaches and parks reopened and school out and folks itchy for time in the sun, especially down South, where it's been warm for at least six weeks.
Just what does the forecast look like for catching a bit of SARS-CoV-2 with that tan?
Well, it's looking rather likely, folks, so don't despair!
There's still a gracious plenty of coronavirus for all!
And my guess is the odds will be even more in favor of that occurrence once the states north of the Mason-Dixon line are able to shed their coats for sundresses and shorts.
Oh, boy howdy!

Just look at this new graph and you'll see exactly what I mean.
I've added Pennsylvania (light blue) and Louisiana (black, at bottom), and Texas (dark purple), just because I could.
Well, also because I have folks dear to me in those states, too.
Let me point out those steeply rising lines for Georgia and Texas, following their grand re-openings - yeehaw, y'all!
Having some fun now, aren't we?
Those folks on the West Coast clearly are having more fun than anybody else though, aren't they?
I'm just saying that I may have to start leaving California off, as it's in its own part of the pandemic's universe of sickness and death, much like New York and New Jersey are, and as Italy once was.
As for Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, and Louisiana, their levels of fun are evidently not yet in full tilt boogie mode.
For now, those are all exhibiting pretty near the same slope, with the number of infected people upward bound, but not by leaps... just a steady climb, day after day.
Like I said, they're not in the mode for maximum fun... or, are they?
Every state, all fifty of them, has informed business that they can unlock their doors and throw wide the shutters, letting in the sunshine and the people after less than two months of shelter in place!
No matter that no state has yet to have a two week decrease in number of infected citizens - go ahead, put everyone back to work!
Now that the USA, number one in number dead, has surpassed one hundred thousand today, why not see just how high that value can go?
Don't want any other country to try to take that title from us, do we?
Let's make sure they understand how serious we are about having fun.
Yeah, we Americans are spoiled rotten and proud of being so!
Ain't no little coronavirus gonna keep us from partying, no sirreebob.
We'll just let the evidence speak for us.

Sigh.

I had to make light of this horrifying data, or I'd be reduced to tears.
My birthday62 will be here on Friday.
I've known since last year that it would fall on a Friday this year, just as my 40th had fallen on a Friday in 1998, encouraging me to make it a three-day weekend this time, too!
No, that most def is not a thing now.
I'll have to devise some other way to mark the event.
Stay tuned... I'm thinkin' 'bout it.
In the mean time, between times, please stay safe, wear that face covering when out in public, and wash, wash, wash those hands.
Seriously.